Overview
The program is the second oldest in the United States. It was established in 1943 as the Department of Police Science by V.A. Leonard. Dr. Leonard founded Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society, and was one of the founding members of the organization that later became the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
The department's name was changed in 1975 to the Department of Criminal Justice. The criminal justice department merged with the Department of Political Science in 1982, when it became the Criminal Justice Program.
Criminal justice is a set of policies pursued by private and public crime institutions that promote and seek to sustain control, order, and justice. Students, hence, are required to take courses in criminal justice, public policy, public administration, public law, sociology, research methods, and statistics. The goal is to produce graduates who understand crime and criminal justice policy and who embody the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards in their work and careers.
The program offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees in criminal justice. Students may earn a minor, a bachelor of arts, a master's degree, or a Ph.D. in criminal justice.
Contact Us
Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice Program
Washington State University
Johnson Tower 801
P.O. Box 644880
Pullman, WA 99164-4880
Ph: 509-335-2545
Fax: 509-335-7990
Graduate and Student Records Coordinator:
Sisouvanh Keopanapay
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